The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-29
The Collapse of the Registration
Cases.

From The Baltimore Sun of Monday:
The very foundation stone of the Reform move
ment, the revolt against the Democra tic party is
called has been from the beginning the assertion,
repeated over and again. that the registration
lists were packed with fraudulent names and that
these names were regularly voted upon by repeat
ers and Others Of the criminal class of the city,
There was no other way by which the control of the
city politics could be in the hands of this class and
no other way by which they could rule US. This
was the distinct charge made not only by reckless
political adventurer but taken up and reiterated by
men ola very different stamp, to whom our people
were much more disposed to listen. So satisfied
were the Reform League that they had only to tap
our registration lists and that great streams of
fraud would flow out, that they put their statement
to the test by presenting nearly four thousand petit
tons, all sworn to by one man. to have names Me-
gdliy registered stricken OF; and so keen were they
10 get at their work that they chafed under the de-
lay of plea to the jurisdiction of the judges as if
was horrible device TO cover up the frauds they
were about to uuearth. The statement of counsel
for the registers published, is complete and over
whelming exposure of the reckless and profigate
crew who, to their utter discontinue and shame
have themselves been shown to have agitated this
community for nothing-slandered officials who
have been proved to be conscientious and careful
anu NOIse lliul all OEOuBul IeprOhcn ana shame
upon the city by series of Misrepresentation
falsely made and most naliciously adhered to.
From the wholesale frauds charged in the begin
ming and persisted in until now we find the indie
pendent committee reduced to a single instance
which they most absuredly publish, in which more
names were registered from house in the ninth
ward than there were rooms. 1t must be borne in
mind that this investigation of the registry lists has
not been Of perfunctory character but conducted
in open court with all the legal machinery at work
to secure the attendance of witnesses and to probe
every case to the bottom. Only Democratic strong
holds were selected by the League, who have been
quite as careful not to touch Republican maorties
as they have been to make raid upon Democratic
wards And what is the result ofthe five days in
vestigation? Mr.. Mcclure who appeared before
Judge Brown counsel for the register of the
fourth ward, states that 'the evidence verbal and
of record, disclosed not Of fraudulent regisra-
ton or Of fraudulent uOtng." Col. Richie reviews
carefully and fully the proceedings in the case of
Register McNeil of the ninth ward, and shows that
while the action of the Reform League will result
in diyrdRcising great many honest rioters who have
failed to get transfers. 'he trial of the cases in
court has shown that the wholesale charges of
fraudulent registration have been of the most un-
founded character" Mr.. William S. Bryan, Jr, who
represented the register of the tenth ward sums up
his statement with the assertion that there was no
proof of the least irregulariy misconduct OH the
part of Mr.. Collins, the register" Mr. Poe was
counsel for Register Reisett, of the seventeenth
ward. and asserts that not a single fictitious or
bogus name was found on the books except two,
who could not be traced. but whose names were not
voted in 1856. Not single irregularity on
the part of the register shown Mr.. Gorter
who appeared for the register of the second ward,
said, in that came before the court did 1t
appear that the Register had acted fraudulenty or
improperly in the discharge of his duties Nor was
it shown that any of his predecessors had been
guilty in any shape form OF malfeasance or mis-
feasance in Office"
What then, becomes of the reform movement of
1857 1t has Utterly staked its upon the raudu-
lent condition ofthe registration lists and the spu-
rious and fraudulent voting resulting from it.
Judges bearing the seal of their approval have de-
cided the issue against them, and with the utter
collapse their cases in court the movement ought
to go to pieces